Economic hardship: Protest hits Osun 

Youths in Osun State on Friday joined the protests despite  the heavy presence of police operatives at the scene in Osogbo, the state capital.

The youths were led by leaders of civil society organisations in the state in a peaceful protest and demanded immediate intervention of the federal and state governments and other stakeholders to save the country from imminent collapse.

The protesters bore placards with diverse inscriptions, such as ‘change the unfavourable policies’, ‘Nigerians are suffering, we can’t cope again’, and ‘We are humans, stop mistreating the citizens’.

Waheed Lawal, the chairman, Osun Civil Societies Coalition, said the protest would continue until the Federal Government comes up with solutions to the current economic hardship ravaging the country.

“Government must ameliorate the suffering of the people. They must do whatever they need to do to make sure that the people live in better conditions,” Lawal said.

“Nigerians deserve the best. They promised us renewed hope but what they are giving us now is renewed hardship. We reject renewed hardship in our lives, and in our economy because Nigerians deserve the best.

“What Nigerians want is a peaceful atmosphere. We don’t want insecurity in our land again. We can’t travel from Osogbo to Ibadan without panicking. You will be thinking that they will kidnap you.

“The abduction of monarchs is the order of the day in our country now. We urge the government to provide security for the lives and property of the citizens. It is their responsibility, it is a constitutional responsibility.

“Every government that fails to provide security for the lives of the citizens is no longer a government. What we are saying is simple, we are ready to face the government in this hardship and we are marathon runners.

“We have started this struggle today and if the government fails to listen to us, we will continue to mobilise our people to protest this hardship because enough is enough.”